List of Ranks

Explanation of Ranks

Abr.FullAddress Explanation Deaths
2Lt2nd LieutenantLT, LieutenantPlatoon Leader in an Infantry Company198
ABAble Seaman44
AdjAdjutantAdjutantAdjutant19
AgentAgent5
AirCplAir Corporal1
AirMecAir Mechanic13
AmnAirman13
ArmArmourerArmourerArmourer1
ArmMateArmourers MateArmourers MateArmourers Mate2
ArmSgtArmourer SergeantArmourer SergeantArmourer Sergeant5
ArtificerArtificerArtificer2
BandBandsmanBandsmanBandsman7
BandboyBandboy1
BandSgtBand Sergeant3
BattQMSBattery Quarter Master Sergeant2
BearBearerBearerBearer16
BlacksmithBlacksmith1
BomBombardierBombardierBombardier106
BomActActing BombardierActing BombardierActing Bombardier31
BomWheelBombardier Wheeler8
BrigBrigadierBrigadier3
BrigGenBrigadier GeneralBrigadier0
BsBosunBosun1
BSMBattery Sergeant Major7
BugBuglerBuglerBugler39
BurgherBurgherBurgherBurgher or Citizen94
CaptCaptainCaptain346
CaptSANCaptain SA NavyCaptainCaptain0
CarpenterCarpenter2
CavCavalier1
CConstChief Constable1
CheckerChecker2
CivCivilianCivilianCivilian29
CivCheckCivilian Checker1
CivClerkCivilian Clerk7
CivCondCivilian ConductorCivilian ConductorCivilian Conductor42
CivCookCivilian Cook1
CivDriveCivilian Driver3
CivEngCivilian Engineer2
CivEngineDriveCivilian Engine Driver4
CivFireCivilian Fireman4
CivFitCivilian Fitter1
CivLabCivilian Labourer1
CivLineCivilian Linesman1
CivLocDrvCivilian Locomotive Driver1
CivNumTakeCivilian Number Taker1
CivServCivilian Servant1
CivShuntCivilian Shunter1
CivSigCivilian Signaller2
CivSigFightCivilian Signal Fighter0
CivSurgeCivilian SurgeonCivilian SurgeonCivilian Surgeon19
CivTelInspCivilian Tele Inspector1
CivTicExamCivilian Ticket Examiner1
CivVetSurgCivilian Veterinary Surgeon3
CivVolCivilian Volunteer1
ClerkClerkClerkClerk17
CmdtCommandant. Equiv to Lt ColCommandant55
CmdtAstAssistant KommandantKommandantAssistant Kommandant2
COCandidate Officer28
ColColonelColonel21
ColSgtMajColour Sergeant MajorColour Sergeant Major4
ColVolColoured Volunteer1
ComdCommanderCommander2
CondConductorConductorConductor21
ConstConstableConstableConstable18
CplCorporalCorporalNormally a Section Leader in an Infantry platoon1181
CplActActing CorporalActing CorporalActing Corporal23
CplBuglerCorporal Bugler1
CplFarCorporal Farrier6
CplShoeCorporal Shoesmith3
CPOChief Petty OfficerChief7
CSgtColour SergeantColourColour Sergeant86
CSMCompany Sgt MajorCSM3
CyclistCyclist2
DomesticDomestic1
DresserDresser2
DrillSgtDrill Sergeant1
DriveFarDriveer Farrier2
DriveGunDriver Gunner5
DriverDriverDriver3
DriveWheelDriver Wheeler1
DrumDrummerDrummerDrummer61
DrumLCplDrum Lance Corporal2
DrumMajDrum Major1
DrumSgtSergeant Drummer5
DrvDriverDriverDriver505
EngDriveEngine Driver1
EngineerEngineer1
F-SgtFlight Sgt11
FarMajFarrier Major2
FarrierFarrier4
FarSgtFarrier SgtFarrier SgtFarrier Sgt39
FdctField Cornet114
FdctAstAssistant VeldkornetAssistant VeldkornetAssistant Veldkornet22
FiremanFireman4
FitterFitter3
ForemanForeman2
GangGanger6
GenGeneralGeneralGeneral8
GnrGunner608
GoalerGoaler1
GroomGroom1
GuardGuard3
GuideGuideGuideGuide12
HdKrooHead Krooman

Krooman \Kroo"man\ (kr[=oo]"man), n.; pl. {Kroomen} (-men). One of a negro tribe of Liberia and the adjacent coast, whose members are much employed on shipboard.]

The Kroo were (are?) a tribe from the Kroo area of Liberia and the adjacent coast who had been regularly employed by the Royal Navy onboard ship for a considerable period pre-WW1. The term Krooman denoted both a member of the tribe and was also used as an official rank by the RN (krooman, head krooman etc.). It was common for the RN to use local labour on various stations around the world to supplement the regular ships complement - another example would be a Seedie on the Singapore Station. They were entitled to medals although frequently missed out on their awards due to their transient status (they couldn't be employed on continuous service, but had to keep signing up onto a new vessel each time a ship paid off - much like the old RN system). See

InspectorActActing Inspector1
IntDepIntelligence Department1
KavKavileerAfrikaans for Tpr - Trooper8
KnrKornetKornet3
KomGenKommandant General1
KroomanKrooman

Krooman \Kroo"man\ (kr[=oo]"man), n.; pl. {Kroomen} (-men). One of a negro tribe of Liberia and the adjacent coast, whose members are much employed on shipboard.]

The Kroo were (are?) a tribe from the Kroo area of Liberia and the adjacent coast who had been regularly employed by the Royal Navy onboard ship for a considerable period pre-WW1. The term Krooman denoted both a member of the tribe and was also used as an official rank by the RN (krooman, head krooman etc.). It was common for the RN to use local labour on various stations around the world to supplement the regular ships complement - another example would be a Seedie on the Singapore Station. They were entitled to medals although frequently missed out on their awards due to their transient status (they couldn't be employed on continuous service, but had to keep signing up onto a new vessel each time a ship paid off - much like the old RN system). See

L-BomLance Bombadier8
L-CplLance CorporalCorporalNormally a Section 2IB in an Infantry Platoon. In the Medics, all Ops Medics (Operational or Combat Medics, are given this rank1004
L-SgtLance SergeantLanceLance Sergeant is/was a rank in Scottish or British Regiments101
LeaderLeader5
LeadStokeLeading Stoker1
LinesmanLinesman4
LsLeading Seaman6
Lt1st LieutenantLT, LieutenantPlatoon Leader in an Infantry Company632
LtCmdrLieutenant Commander2
LtColLieutenant ColonelColonelLieutenant Colonel37
LtGenLt GeneralGeneralGeneral0
ltSANNaval LieutenantLieutenant0
MajMajorMajor119
MajGenlMajor GeneralGeneralMajor General4
MessengerMessenger1
MidshipmanMidshipman4
NativeNative2
NativeDriveNative DriverDriver1
NatSctNative Scout4
NurseSisNursing SisterSisterNursing Sister31
OrdOrderlyOrderlyOrderly30
ORSgtOrderly Room Segeant1
OseaOrdinary SeamanSeamanOrdinary Seaman9
PainterPainter1
PaymasterPaymaster1
PioneerPioneer4
PiperPiper1
POPetty Officer22
ProfessorProfessor1
PtePrivate10942
PvtDrumPrivate Drummer4
QMQuarter Master3
QMCplQuarter Master Corporal1
QMSgtQuarter Master SergeantQuarter Master SergeantQuarter Master Sergeant42
RangerRanger7
RctRecruitBusy with training. Not yet completed basics16
RegtUnknown128
ReverendReverend3
RfnRiflemanHey You, Troopie, Anneman etc :-)1327
Royal WestUnknown0
RQMSRegimental Quarter Master Sergent2
RSMRegimental Sergeant MajorRSM6
SadCplSaddler Coporal3
SaddlerSaddler1
SadSgtSaddler Sergeant4
SBSSick Berth Steward1
ScoutScout36
SeaSeaman15
SgtSargeantSarge, SergeantNormally the "Platoon Sergeant" in an Infantry company948
SgtActActing SergeantActing SergeantActing Sergeant2
SgtMajSergeant MajorSergeant MajorSergeant Major81
SgtPipeSergeant Piper5
SgtTrumpSergeant Trumpeter2
ShoeShoesmithShoesmithShoesmith90
ShunterShunter2
SLtSub-Lieutenant SA NavyLieutenantLieutenant2
SmnSignalman29
SpecSctSpecial Scout2
SprSapper311
SQMSSquadron Quarter Master Sergeant6
SSgtStaff SargeantStaffNormally the QSQM (Quarter Master SGT) in an Infantry Company45
StaffQMSStaff Quarter Master Sergeant3
StaffSFStaff Sergeant Farrier5
StaffSMStaff Sgt Major14
StewSteward1
StokerStoker18
SubInspSub Inspector1
SuperindendentSuperindendent2
SupSgtSuperintendent Sergeant1
SurgAstAssistant SurgeonAssistant SurgeonAssistant Surgeon1
SurgCaptSurgeon Captain1
SurgLtSurgeon Lieutenant1
SurgLtColSurgeon Lieutenant Colonel2
SurgMajSurgeon Major1
T-CplTemp Corporal1
TelegTelegraphist6
TprTrooperSame as Rifleman except for the Armoured units or the Cavalry1525
TraderTraderTrader1
TrpQMSTroop Quarter Master Sergeant1
TrpSgtMajTroop Sergeant Major7
TrumpTrumpeterTrumpeterTrumpeter10
TrumpLCplTrumpeter Lance Corporal1
UnkEastUnknownUnknownUnknown (Was East)218
UnkNorthUnknownUnknownUnknown (Was North)111
UnknownUnknown7374
UnkRoyalUnknownUnknownUnknown (Was Royal)2473
UnkSouthUnknownUnknownUnknown (Was South)537
VegGenVeg Generaal2
VetLtVeterinary Lieutenant2
VknrVerkennerReccie/Operator2
VolVolunteer10
W-KomdtWaarnemende Komdt5
W-KorpWaarnemende Korporaal1
WagmeesterWagmeester1
WestUnknownUnknown153
WheelerWheeler1
WO1Warrant Officer 1st ClassSergeant Major, RSM etc depending on the position heldSergeant Major - Normally Regimental Sergeant Major in an Infantry Regiment or Battalion.21
WO2Warrant Officer 2nd ClassSergeant MajorSergeant Major - Normally Company Sergeant Major in an Infantry Company14
WrnWeermanSkutterAfrikaans term for Rifleman55